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South Sudan: IGAD Unveils New Power Sharing Proposal

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Eskinder Firew

Last updated on: June 15, 2015 7:59 AM

ADDIS ABABA— East African bloc IGAD has released a new proposal for how it thinks power should be shared in South Sudan once peace is restored.
The document released last week proposes giving President Salva Kiir's government "a majority in the legislature, the positions of President and Vice President and 53 percent of ministerial portfolios."
Former vice president Riek Machar's armed opposition group would have the second largest number of seats in the National Assembly, along with "the new position of First Vice President and 33 percent of ministerial portfolios," the document says.
A group of former political detainees and other political parties will share 14 percent of ministerial portfolios between them and hold an unspecified number of seats in parliament.

Conflict-affected states

In the three states that have been hardest hit by the 18-month conflict - in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile - IGAD proposes giving Machar's opposition movement 53 percent of ministerial portfolios. The ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) would hold 33 percent of cabinet positions in those states, and the remaining 14 percent of ministerial posts would be shared equally between the former detainees and other political parties. IGAD says this will "ensure the reform of governance in these areas."
The IGAD proposal also provides for a transitional government of national unity to become operational three months after the signing of an agreement to end the conflict. The transitional government would remain in power for 30 months.
IGAD proposes holding elections in South Sudan 60 days before the end of the transitional government's term.
The document was presented to government and rebel negotiators last week in Addis Ababa.
The lead negotiator for Machar's rebels, Taban Deng Gai, faulted the IGAD proposal for maintaining the status quo in South Sudan, by keeping President Kiir at the helm of the national government and giving the ruling SPLM a majority in parliament.
Gai also complained that the IGAD proposal focusses solely on the fighting in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states, and ignores unrest in other parts of the country. But he said that, because the document is not final and binding, the rebels are willing to work with it.
The government's lead negotiator, Nhial Deng Nhial, did not comment last week on the IGAD proposal.


COMMENTS:

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by: lisa from: Dallas

June 15, 2015 11:37 PM

Reply

If that's what it takes to bring peace, then let it be. Am glad that the rebels have some sense to accept the document, this guy's have realized that that the only way to peace is to stop the killing of civilians by all means and they did it although the government is attacking the rebels control areas without a success you know why it because the war is brought to their homes, it have never happened in any history of war when the rebels capture the enemy's and release them this is what Dr Riek Machar have been doing because he's tired of senseless killings but guess what once you're arrested in the government areas your family will never find you, you're dead, if the government refuses the document then it's clear indication that they don't care about it people.

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by: David Miak from: Canada

June 16, 2015 4:04 PM

Reply

ThIs proposal by IGAD is still not going to work. Kiir is an illigitimate president due to genocides that he has committed. IGAD should be aware that this war is not about SPLA/M party. IGAD needs to treat South Sudan situation as national concern. Besides, IGAD should not gives majority government to Kiir administrations that have committed crimes against humanity. IGAD should review their proposal, and also they need to involve other civil societies. In addition, IGAD did not mention any proposal about foreigner troops. Especially Uganda troops that are pretending that they are peace keeping, while Moseveni is the one who cited this war against SouthSudanese by convincing Kiir to assassinate Dr Machar. In order for South Sudan nation to have stable, international community's have to be serious enough for the implementation of peace. Otherwise it will lead to a regional war within East African country base of their interest.

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